that already a decisive battle had been fought and that our side had
suffered a crushing defeat." He uttered a weary sigh.

"God help us, monsieur! Monseigneur de Richelieu is likely to have
his way with us. But let that be for the present. You are here,
and you are safe. As yet no suspicion rests on Lavedan. I was, as
I have said, too late for the fight, and so I came quietly back to
save my skin, that I might serve the Cause in whatever other way
might offer still. In sheltering you I am serving Gaston d'Orleans,
and, that I may continue so to do, I pray that suspicion may continue
to ignore me. If they were to learn of it at Toulouse or of how
with money and in other ways I have helped this rebellion - I make
no doubt that my head would be the forfeit I should be asked to pay."

I was aghast at the freedom of treasonable speech with which this
very debonnaire gentleman ventured to address an utter stranger.

"But tell me, Monsieur de Lesperon," resumed my host, "how is it
with you?"

I started in fresh astonishment.

"How - how do you know that I am Lesperon?" I asked.

"Ma foi!" he laughed, "do you imagine I had spoken so unreservedly
to a man of whom I knew nothing? Think better of me, monsieur, I
beseech you. I found these letters in your pocket last night, and
their superscription gave me your identity. Your name is well known
to me," he added. "My friend Monsieur de Marsac has often spoken
of you and of your devotion to the Cause, and it affords me no